What’s for Dinner – Part 3

Finally – my current plan for getting dinner on the table (at least part of the time) is the tried and true old fashion method of Menu Planning. At this season of my life – older kids who drive themselves (well almost all of them – still get to carpool Tessa around) – I actually have a little more time to cook meals each evening. I really enjoy cooking – the thing I don’t like is deciding what to cook!! To help with this problem I keep a master list of meals I know my family likes – and a list of recipes “to try” (these I usually save for weekends when I have more time) I have found that the true secret to being able to prepare a home cooked meal for my family is not so much how much time I have but rather having a well stocked pantry.

There are certain ingredients I always have on hand.A well stocked pantry comes in handy on the nights when you need to throw something together fast.By taking the time at the beginning of each week to plan out what we are going to have for dinner I save time (no multiples trips to the grocery store each day) and I save on stress (What’s for dinner!?!?).I have a master list of about 30 meals I know my family loves – each Sunday I sit down with the list and figure out what we will have each night, taking into account the week’s activities, meetings etc.On ballet nights that I have to drive carpool I know I need something that can be prepared ahead of time (crockpot etc.)Nights when I don’t have any meetings or activities I will pencil in something that might take a little bit more time and try out new recipes on the weekend.

The following are things I found are a must for my pantry.By keeping these ingredients on hand I can throw a quick yummy homemade dinner together quickly:Having a well stocked pantry and a meal plan really helps prevent those last minute “What’s for Dinner” meal crisis!

In the Freezer

Chicken (breasts and thighs)

Hamburger (patties and ground)

Tortellini and Ravioli (love the cheese and chicken ravioli from Costco)

Shhh don’t tell anyone but I also keep a bottle of white wine, red wine and cooking sherry in the cabinet!

During different seasons of my family’s life different options have worked.The trick is finding what works for your family. If what you are doing right now is not working – try something new!Try one of my ideas or talk to your friends and see what they are doing about dinner.Feel like you’ve run out of new, fun ideas? Try checking out the food network, get together with friends for a recipe swap or buy a new cookbook or food magazine.Get inspired!

If you have a favorite trick for making sure dinner gets on the table or a favorite quick and easy recipe for those nights when mom needs to get out the door or doesn’t have a lot of prep time – please share with me and others by clicking on comments below and leaving your tip, idea or recipe!.

One of our family’s favorite quick and easy dishes is Brown Butter and Balsamic Ravioli. You can serve it as a side dish or when Jim is out of town the girls and I will eat it as our main dish with a nice green salad – so good and SO EASY!!

Hi – I’m Leigh Anne! I have been a homebased mom for 30 years since my first baby boy was born! I love working with women and helping to inspire them to achieve their goals and dreams while still maintaining motherhood and family as their number one priority. I blog about everything I enjoy – creating treats and meals in my kitchen, spending time in my garden, entertaining and party planning, reading, self improvement and tips and ideas on style and fashion.

[…] My little break from cooking has helped me to refocus (there is one of those re words!) my meal planning and recommit to doing it weekly. I eliminate so much stress from my life when I figure out on Sunday what we are going to have for dinner all week! It really only takes 20 minutes or so to make up the plan and it saves me so much time, stress and money! If you need some hints or tips on meal planning be sure and check out this post and this one. And if you’d like to see what I try to always have on hand that makes meal planning easier check out this list. […]